Session: 123456789101112131415161718         Page 414415416417418419420421422423424425426427428429430431432433434435436437438439440441442443444445446447448449450451452 of 617

when we pass the Stonewall, we pay tribute to the Stonewall. You can't form in front of the Stonewall, because then you can't lower the colors,” or whatever. (laughs) I mean it's a joke, a real joke.

So I said, “I understand that. Why don't you form then on West 4th Street.” Because of the peculiar location there, there's a little park between West 4th and Christopher, and they could form on that side. And everybody else except this guy who's the head of the parade says: “Brilliant!” (laughs)

So in any event, that was agreed -- that they would form and then they would be able to walk for like 25 yards up 7th Avenue and then into Christopher Street and droop the colors in front of Stonewall. Okay? (laughs)

Then we get to the Parks Department. Oh, at that point I think Doug Ireland comes in. Doug Ireland says, “I'm here on behalf of Speaker Steinqut.” The question is whether Speaker Steingut knows he's there. And then others come in: “I'm here on behalf of Borough President Robert Abrams.” But I'm the only public officeholder that's actually there, because people run away from it. It's an issue that can cause one embarrassment, and if you can avoid it, you avoid it. But I decided I'm going to do what's right, and I've never suffered as a result of it. I mean I don't want to sound like I'm a martyr hero type, because I'm not, but I have always found that when I have done what I thought was morally right, I have never suffered, never, not on any issue no matter how controversial,